French settlers vow to find and plant trees in memory of the murdered

• Olive trees in honor of Ilan Halimi were chopped down in Paris.
• French settlers vow to find and plant the culprits.
• Antisemitic acts continue to provoke recorded incidents in the country.

PARIS — French settlers vow to use all means to identify and bring to justice those unknown assailants who chopped down an olive tree planted in honor of Ilan Halimi, a Jew, murdered in 2006.

The commemorative tree, which was planted 14 years ago in the northern suburb of Paris, Épinay-sur-Seine, was destroyed in the evening, likely due to an electric saw. The place published a photo on its Facebook page, showing that the leafy part of the tree was completely severed from the trunk, leaving only a stump sticking out of the ground.

Ilan Halimi was kidnapped and tortured by gang members and accomplices from the suburbs of the Essonne region south of Paris on February 13, 2006. He died during transport to a hospital after being held captive for more than three weeks. He was 23 years old. The gruesome murder triggered recorded incidents of antisemitism in France, leading to a deepening of recorded antisemitism in the Jewish community of France, the largest in Western Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on his platform X that "the destruction of the tree that honored Ilan Halimi is an attempt to erase his memory." He emphasized that "the nation will not forget this child of France, murdered for being a Jew."

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne also commented on the incident, stating that the olive tree "was destroyed due to antisemitic hatred." He emphasized that "no crime can erase a memory."

The Paris police chief condemned this "horrific act" and stated about the investigation, emphasizing that "everything will be done to identify the criminals and bring them to justice."

Earlier attacks have already desecrated other memorials in honor of Halimi. In 2017, a memorial plaque in Paris was torn down, thrown to the ground, and covered with antisemitic inscriptions.

Tags: Europe/Crime